21st Century Learners
As the Internet became available to the masses, everything including the learning process has evolved. The learners are no longer confined to the classroom. Rather, learners can access the contents anywhere and anytime they desire.
There are numerous options of the online courses that learners can choose from. With a technological device and the internet, students can access education of their choices.
Learning Theories
Cognitivism
- Learner = thinking being
- Learning = an active process of information
- Human brain = computer information process
- Learning occurs when the learner receives new information and makes connections.
- New information stays when it is stored in long-term memory.
Constructivism
- Learners internalize knowledge.
- Learners make connections between the experience and knowledge they had with new information.
- Humans learn as they understand and create meaning from the new information.
- Real life experiences promotes meaningful learning experiences.
Impact on Design
- Consider the learner’s point of view
- Learner is taking an active role in learning
- Learners bring their own unique experience and knowledge
- Learning experience needs to be engaging and accessible to all learners
Relevance between Learning Theories and Online Learning Environment
I believe that cognitivism is meaningful to how people learn in the 21st century because technology allows the learning experience to be tailored to the learner.
For instance, the primary grade students I worked with use a math game program called ST Math. ST Math is an instructional program for students k through 8th grade. Below shows students’ experience in ST Math.
- Pick one Mathematics objective
- take pre-assessment
- Start a puzzle that is tailored to the pre-assessment results
- Continue with the puzzle
- Take post assessment
This process follows ADDIE model. It accesses what students already know and tailor the program to meet students’ needs. This allows students to make a connection from what they know and learn a new mathematical concept. After students learn a new concept from the math puzzle, students can apply the new knowledge when they face a problem during the in person math class. ST Math respects the learner as the thinking being and provides the right amount of challenge.
Personalized Learning
I applied adaptive models, discourse analysis, and predictive models to envision the future of learning and development to provide a highly personalized learning environment. Click the image to enlarge the poster.
Rachel C Lee 